Volusia County, located in the heart of the beautiful east coast of Florida, is a rapidly growing, progressive area. Sixteen municipalities make up the county, with Daytona Beach, DeLand, Deltona, Ormond Beach and Port Orange as the largest metropolitan areas. The county is conveniently located for easy access to major cities such as Orlando, Jacksonville, Tampa and Miami. Volusia's public school system is equally rich in what it offers. With 62,850 students and approximately 7,300 employees, the system is the state's thirteenth largest school district and one of the largest employers in the county. More than half of the district's employees are skilled teachers, all of whom are state certified. Approximately 42 percent of instructional staff hold master's degrees, educational specialist degrees or doctorate degrees. People who live and work in the county have a multitude of educational and cultural experiences and opportunities to explore. Families and individuals of all interests, backgrounds and abilities have access to an array of enriching learning opportunities. Volusia offers higher educational options through Daytona State College, University of Central Florida, Bethune-Cookman University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Keiser College, Stetson University and Nova Southeastern University.